It takes stepping back and shaking routine off your shoulders to see the details and intrigue in things that have become commonplace. It happens when friends come to visit, and often when I spend time in another city in Italy. And most of those experiences happen when I step away from the computer. (telling myself…

When my friends came to visit me earlier this month, they had a heck of a time getting here for just a 9-day trip. When they arrived at San Francisco airport Thursday afternoon, they found their flight to Philadelphia had been cancelled along with many others. Originally supposed to land in Milan, their best shot…

I had some visitors in town recently, and though their trip was over by the time I posted How to Order an Italian Coffee and How to Avoid a Pickpocket and those posts were no help to them, I was lucky enough to be able to join them on the weekend in Venice and do…

You can also now reach my blog by using www.msadventuresinitaly.com !! Cool site: Following in Wikipedia’s footsteps, Wiki Travel, an free, editable travel guide is going strong. The Italian language version just launched. Some Italian city guides (English): Milan – Rome – Venice – Florence – Naples I just can’t look at Fergie (aka Stacey…